CC Sabathia will sign with the Yankees for seven years and $160 million. Four or five games in 2009 just got a lot harder for the Rays. [MLB Trade Rumors]

The Rays are adding a second rookie-level minor league team that will play in Port Charlotte as part of the Gulf Coast League. This gives the Rays seven minor league affiliates. The Rays have also hired a new hitting coach for the Durham Bulls to replace Gary Gaetti. Dave Myers played for eight seasons in the Mariners farm system, reaching as high as double-A before retiring in 1988. His most recent job was as a coach for the Mariners. [St. Pete Times]

Andrew Friedman does not believe the reports of Jason Giambi signing with the A’s are true, noting that Giambi would not be wasting his own time or the Rays’ time…Our feeling is that Giambi plans on signing with the A’s but is just keeping all options open until he signs a contract. At this time, the A’s appear to have their priorities elsewhere but will get to Giambi eventually. [Tampa Tribune]

For those that are old enough to remember, one of the most well-known baseball cards of the 1980s was the 1988 Fleer Billy Ripken with the unfortunate trademark on the knob of his bat. Ripken finally came clean to Darren Rovell of SportsBiz, about how the entire incident unfolded. How did Ripken first become aware of the baseball card? From the Rays’ own VP of Communications Rick Vaughn, who was the PR guy for the Orioles at the time. (thanks Jordi) [SportsBiz]